Government House Canberra, the Governor-General’s Canberra residence, was purchased by the Commonwealth in 1913. The main residence, a fine three-storey building, had been the homestead of the Yarralumla property. Used as living quarters for visiting dignitaries, such as members of parliament, in the years of Canberra’s construction, the Yarralumla residence underwent extensive alterations and additions during 1925–26 to equip it as the Governor-General’s residence on the relocation of the seat of government to Canberra in 1927. Further alterations were made to the building in 1936.
The National Archives in Canberra holds a range of architectural plans and drawings that document the alterations and additions to the Yarralumla residence. Examples of these are included in the tables that follow.
Most items in some of these series of drawings, for example A2501, are not individually dated. The series date range provides an indication of the most probable range of when individual items were created.
 | Architectural drawings with AA prefix | 1925–28 | A2501 | ||
 | Details of picture rails | 1925–30 | A2501, AA155 | ||
| Alterations to Porte Cochere Official Entrance | 1925–30 | A2501, AA157 | ||
| ADC quarters – Pilasters to entrance | 1925–30 | A2501, AA196 | ||
| New stable block – amended plan | 1925–30 | A2501, AA201 | ||
| Suggested sites for conservatory and fuel shed | 1925–30 | A2501, AA329 | ||
| Stable block boiler | 1925–30 | A2501, AA338 | ||
| Sentry box | 1925–30 | A2501, AA472 | ||
| Architectural drawings with AC prefix | 1925–31 | A2503 | ||
| Half inch detail of east elevation (AC917) | 1913–30 | A2503, folder 4 | ||
| Details of entrance and vestibule (AC918) | 1913–30 | A2503, folder 4 | ||
| Alterations and additions (AC919) | 1913–30 | A2503, folder 4 | ||
| Joinery details, windows to dining room (AC946) | 1913–30 | A2503, folder 5 | ||
| Doors and sidelights to official entrance (AC949) | 1913–30 | A2503, folder 5 | ||
| Alterations to gables (AC950) | 1913–30 | A2503, folder 5 | ||
| Joinery details – Secretary’s Office (AC952) | 1913–30 | A2503, folder 5 | ||
| Joinery details – servants’ quarters (AC953) | 1913–30 | A2503, folder 5 | ||
| Government House – alterations and additions (AC476) | 1913–30 | A2503, folder 3 | ||
| Details of boiler room (AC908) | 1913–30 | A2503, folder 4 | ||
| New stable block(AC910) | 1913–30 | A2503, folder 4 | ||
| Fire places in Governor-General’s and ADC’s room (AC911) | 1913–30 | A2503, folder 4 | ||
| Details of ceilings, first and second floors – main building (AC913) | 1913–30 | A2503, folder 4 | ||
| Details of stairs to lookout on main roof (AC915) | 1913–30 | A2503, folder 4 | ||
| ADC’s quarters (AC922) | 1913–30 | A2503, folder 4 | ||
| Alterations to bays, first floor (AC934) | 1913–30 | A2503, folder 5 | ||
| Full size detail (AC936) | 1913–30 | A2503, folder 5 | ||
| Details of doors and windows to Governor-General’s room (AC938) | 1913–30 | A2503, folder 5 | ||
| Details of fireplace and mantles to drawing room (AC945) | 1913–30 | A2503, folder 5 | ||
| Detail of veranda near Private Secretary’s room (AC956) | 1913–30 | A2503, folder 5 | ||
| Government House – cottages (AC1401) | 1913–30 | A2503, folder 7 | ||
| Detail of conservatory (AC1500) | 1913–30 | A2503, folder 7 | ||
| Entrance gates – Royal Coat of Arms (AC1538) | 1913–30 | A2503, folder 8 | ||
| Entrance gates – Australian Coat of Arms (AC1539) | 1913–30 | A2503, folder 8 | ||
| Architectural drawings with AF prefix | 1925–30 | A2505 | ||
| Full size detail of cornice | 1925–30 | A2505, AF541 | ||
| Detail of box framed windows | 1925–30 | A2505, AF571 | ||
| Detail of balcony | 1925–30 | A2505, AF521 | ||
| Detail of joinery | 1925–30 | A2505, AF561 | ||
| Architectural drawings with AG prefix | 1930 | A2506 | ||
| Staircase | 1930 | A2506, AG209 | ||
| Detail of dining room | 1930 | A2506, AG198 | ||
| Servants’ quarters | 1930 | A2506, AG207 | ||
| Alterations and additions to stable block | 1930 | A2506, AG202 | ||
| Aperture cards for ACT architectural plans and drawings | 1921–59 | A9663 | ||
| Amended site plan | undated | A9663, 10875 | ||
| Installation of dumb waiter | undated | A9663, 15808 | ||
| Extension to 2nd floor fire escape | undated | A9663, 15862 | ||
| Details to staff cottage | undated | A9663, 17790 | ||
| Drainage scheme | undated | A9663, AC939 | ||
| Staircase | undated | A9663, AF51 | ||
| Box framed windows | undated | A9663, AF57 | ||
| Servants' quarters | undated | A9663, AG207 | ||
| Alterations and additions | undated | A9663, 9956A | ||
| Reception room | undated | A9663, 10626 | ||
| New fireplace – sitting room | undated | A9663, 21929 | ||
You can obtain more information about the record series listed above (and the items within the series) from RecordSearch, the Archives database. Follow the links in the series lists to go directly to information on that series. Keyword searches using the term 'government house', and then narrowing by 'canberra’ or 'yarralumla’ will identify relevant records. You can also use RecordSearch to find out about the agencies that created the records and to locate more records on your subject. You might also explore PhotoSearch to find out if there are photos pertaining to your subject.
RecordSearch and PhotoSearch are available online and in all Archives reading rooms. Reference staff are available in the reading rooms to help you, or email ref@naa.gov.au.
updated January 2008